Euonymus plant named &#39;EUJACODEK&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Euonymus  cultivar named ‘EUJACODEK’ which is characterized by the combination of a freely-branching, broad upright growth habit with dense foliage, an abundance of pale yellow juvenile foliage, pale yellow juvenile stems, an abundance of pale yellow intermediate foliage with green venation, intermediate foliage which becomes progressively suffused with green as it matures, dark green and glossy mature foliage, large mature foliage, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Euonymus japonicus.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Euonymus disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘EUJACODEK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘EUJACODEK’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of Euonymus japonicus ‘Francien’ (not patented) which was discovered in St. Oedenrode, the Netherlands in March of 2014. The mutation was noted for its larger leaves and an abundance of pale yellow juvenile foliage.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘EUJACODEK’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in March of 2014 in St. Oedenrode, the Netherlands. Through two subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EUJACODEK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘EUJACODEK’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘EUJACODEK’ as a new and distinct Euonymus japonicus cultivar:

-   -   1. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits a freely branching, upright         growth habit with dense foliage; and     -   2. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits an abundance of pale yellow         juvenile foliage; and     -   3. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits an abundance of pale yellow         juvenile foliage; and     -   4. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits pale yellow juvenile stems; and     -   5. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits an abundance of pale yellow         intermediate foliage with green venation, with foliage becoming         progressively suffused with green as it matures; and     -   6. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits dark green, glossy mature         foliage; and     -   7. Euonymus ‘EUJACODEK’ exhibits mature foliage of a large size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘EUJACODEK’ grown in St. Oedenrode, the Netherlands. This plant, grown in a 17 cm nursery container, is approximately one year old from a rooted young plant.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical juvenile and intermediate foliage of ‘EUJACODEK’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical mature foliage of ‘EUJACODEK’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

With the exception of the inflorescence and flower descriptions, the following observations and measurements made in June of 2016 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of one year old ‘EUJACODEK’ plants grown in 17 cm nursery pots in St. Oedenrode, the Netherlands. Plants were produced under 50 percent shade cloth, using overhead irrigation at regular intervals, and fertilized as required using a slow release fertilizer. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘EUJACODEK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘EUJACODEK’ and comparisons with the parent plants and most similar commercial Euonymus cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial; broad upright.         -   Plant shape.—Ovate.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—31.6 cm.         -   Average width.—Average of 29.6 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by             softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21 days are required             to initiate roots at 20 degrees Celsius.         -   Time to produce a marketable 17 cm potted             plant.—Approximately 12 months. Pinching will increase             lateral branching.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Euonymus japonicus have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Zones 8 to 11 and             temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; moderate             tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Diameter, mature roots.—0.1 cm, on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N170A. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Main stem grows from the base, freely             branching with lateral branches.         -   Number of main stems per plant.—5.         -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—50.         -   Appearance and shape.—Rounded.         -   Length of lateral branches.—10.2 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Averaging 0.2 cm at the widest             point.         -   Internode length on lateral branches.—1.8 cm.         -   Luster.—Moderately glossy.         -   Aspect.—Average angle is approximately 40 degrees from             vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, RHS 150D.         -   Color, mature.—Green, slightly darker than RHS 143A.         -   Color at internodes.—Green, slightly darker than RHS 143A.         -   Color of oldest wood.—Greyed-brown, a mixture of RHS N199C             and N199A.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—12.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 5.3 cm long and 2.7 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Elliptical. Aspect — Slightly carinate.             Apex — Bluntly acute to narrow obtuse. Base — Short             attenuate. Margin — Finely crenate to serrulate. Pubescence,             adaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster of adaxial             surface — Leathery and moderately glossy to glossy.             Pubescence, abaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster             of abaxial surface — Leathery and moderately glossy to             glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — In             between yellow-green, RHS 150D, and white, RHS 155A.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — In between yellow-green,             RHS 150D, and white, RHS 155A. Intermediate foliage, adaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 147A, and becoming progressively             suffused with green, RHS NN137A, as the foliage matures.             Intermediate foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS             146B, and becoming progressively suffused with green, RHS             143A, as the foliage matures. Mature foliage, adaxial             surface — Green, RHS NN137A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface             — Green, RHS 143A. Venation — Pattern — Pinnate. Color,             adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 143C. Color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144A.         -   Sheath.—Not sheathing.         -   Petiole.—Length — 0.7 cm. Width — 0.1 cm. Texture —             Glabrous; smooth. Luster — Moderately glossy. Strength —             Strong. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144C.             Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144B. -   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘EUJACODEK’ may be distinguished from its parent, Euonymus     ‘Francien’ (not patented), which is also the most similar known     commercial comparator, by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘EUJACODEK’ ‘Francien’ Growth habit; plant More compact, more More upright and not as size. freely branched, and freely branched; taller than spreading; shorter than ‘EUJACODEK’. ‘Francien’. Stem internode Shorter than Longer than length. ‘Francien’. ‘EUJACODEK’. Leaf size. Larger than ‘Francien’. Smaller than ‘EUJACODEK’. Abundance of More abundant. Less abundant. foliage. General coloration Pale yellow. Near white. of juvenile foliage. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euonymus plant named ‘EUJACODEK’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 